Broad range in 17 finalists for local government EXCELLENCE Awards

Published: 14 June 2017

News type: National news

From a weed blitz to mountain biking and innovative economic strategy, finalists in the 2017 Local Government New Zealand EXCELLENCE Awards span a broad range of outstanding council leadership initiatives.

The awards, now in their fourth year, recognise and celebrate the key role local government plays within New Zealand communities.

From 56 applications, 17 finalists for five awards have been named, with winners to be announced at the LGNZ conference dinner in Auckland on 24 July 2017.

LGNZ President Lawrence Yule says local government plays an essential role in driving residential, community and economic activity throughout New Zealand and the finalists in the EXCELLENCE Awards showcased outstanding leadership being provided by councils throughout the country.

“Local government is at the centre of every community in New Zealand, helping shape the environment in which we work and play,” Mr Yule says.

“Being named as a finalist is a great achievement and reflects the vision shown by councils and the innovative work being done by staff. The finalists include some exceptional projects that are having a profound impact on communities.”

Local authorities were invited to submit award applications in five categories:

Fulton Hogan EXCELLENCE Award for Community Engagement

Creative New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for Best Creative Place

Air New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for Environmental Impact

Chorus EXCELLENCE Award for Best Practice in Infrastructure

Crown Fibre Holdings EXCELLENCE Award for Best Practice Contribution to Local Economic Development

Judges for the awards are former Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, Chair of EQC Sir Maarten Wevers and The New Zealand Initiative’s Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich. The winners will announced at the LGNZ Conference and Awards dinner on 24 July.

The 17 finalists in the LGNZ EXCELLENCE Awards 2017 are:

Fulton Hogan EXCELLENCE Award for Community Engagement

Hutt City Council – Transformation Taita - Aiming to create a brighter future for all young people while building a stronger community, Transformation Taita offers access to facilities, resources and activities to those who need it most.

Waikato District Council – Placemaking Programme - This programme is reclaiming public spaces by encouraging groups and individuals to develop artistic and cultural ideas for projects as diverse as delivery of library services through Little Libraries, and knitting poppies for trees to mark Anzac Day.

Palmerston North City Council – Green Corridors Palmerston North - More than 150,000 native trees have so far been planted as part of this project to connect the Tararua Ranges to the Manawatu River through a corridor of native plants alongside streams and tributaries, improving water quality and bringing birdlife back to the city.

Chorus EXCELLENCE Award for Best Practice in Infrastructure Management

Waikato District Council – Waikato District Alliance - The Alliance is the largest purely roading group in the country, with an integrated team of council staff, contractors and suppliers working together to improve asset management, and renewal and maintenance services to the community – dramatically improving response times.

Hauraki District Council – Economic Development Strategy “Toward 2025” - “Toward 2025” builds on the highly successful strategy adopted in 2013, using a range of proactive and practical intervention projects to focus the community on achieving development goals that have already seen more than $100 million in investment coming to the region, including major international investment.

Rotorua Lakes Council – Rotorua Mountain Biking Strategy - The strategy to establish Rotorua as a globally recognised mountain bike destination has seen visits to the Whakarewarewa Mountain Bike Park increased from 55,000 in 2005 to 250,000 in 2016, with resulting job growth coming from increased investment in retail and support businesses.

Selwyn District Council – Izone Business Park Development - The Izone Business Park is New Zealand’s largest fully consented and development-ready industrial park with 68 new businesses employing 1,200 people. Another 800 jobs are forecast as development work is completed by land purchasers.